Chapter 17: Before it begins

Ganondorf paced around inside his room, round and round, over and over. A few candles gave a faint light to his room's gloomy darkness. Two witches sat on a sofa, both looking like they had lived unnaturally long. They had wrinkled skin and were both very short, like two ugly children. Their eyes were abnormally big. Actually, they were twins but since one's head seemed to be in flames and the other crowned by a large mountain of ice they were visibly different.

"Haven't I already waited long enough?" Ganondorf asked, his frustration clear in his voice.

"Haven't we proven how trustable our advice is? Who leads all of this?"

"…And they say I was born to be their king!" Ganondorf muttered.

"My boy, don't think we can't hear you", one of the witches stated as she waggled a bony finger at him.

"We have raised you as our own son and even taught you magic. Magic is rare nowadays!"

Ganondorf mumbled something they couldn't hear and that was probably for the best.

"As the one man, only born every hundred years in the Gerudo tribe, you are of course chosen for something grand", the witch continued.

"We have trained you and given you as much strength as we could master", the other sister spoke.

"Then why do I have to crawl on the ground and kiss another man's shoes? Someone this pathetic too!" He stopped his pacing and sat down in a chair instead.

"You know why we're doing this…"

"Of course I know!" Ganondorf exclaimed. "It's for revenge, because of what they did to us! It's for us, the Gerudos! And most of all… it's for me…"

"Yes", the witch smirked. "A Gerudo man shall be equal to the holy goddesses but does any outside our tribe even bother you a thought?"

"It's so much trouble being treated as a thief. To take Hyrule will mean lots and lots of planning and precision and still it's doubtful that we'll succeed… but with the Triforce…" The other witch chuckled evilly.

"They whole world will lie in my hand!"

"We're getting really close now…"

"Yes", Ganondorf leant back against the back of the chair. "We know where the Triforce is hidden. We have located two of the sacred stones that are necessary to open the gates that lock us out from its power. We only need the Song of Time and the third sacred stone."

"Yes", the witches agreed and nodded.

"SO WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR TIME HERE?" Ganondorf roared.

"We can't get the Triforce without the Song of Time…" One of the witches said.

"…And it has to be played on the Ocarina of Time…" Her sister added.

"I know that!" Ganondorf snarled as he tapped his fingers on the table. "But I'm sick of this! I have been here for years now and still haven't won back the king's loyalty!"

"Why did you even try to get rid of the princess? Such a child is of no importance… This is one of the reasons this is taking such time."

"She's bothering me!"

"Stop your whining. She's the one who has the ocarina, yes?"

"She could easily be lying…"

"Why would she?" She smirked at him. A horrible grin that would have filled you with disgust if you were there to see it.

Ganondorf didn't believe Zelda was lying either. However, that princess had always been one step ahead of him and he hated it! He was used to being someone unreachable, someone no one could compete with and then a small girl came and completely outmatched him like this! He growled.

"She might know something about the song too", the other old woman said and woke Ganondorf from his thoughts.

"Wouldn't surprise me…" Ganondorf mumbled and went back to his hateful thoughts. The princess was still very young, still a child actually, but she had grown. She looked more and more like a woman and her mysterious and wise looks made her appear like anything else but a child. He didn't know if it was good or bad that she almost never showed up at the castle. At least she had stopped giving him piercing stares since he tried to get her killed as a Sheikah.

"Stop daydreaming!"

"Huh?" Ganondorf looked up.

"We can personally get you the Kokiri Emerald. There is no use sending Gerudos into the forest."

"Excellent Koume", the other sister, Kotake, answered. "We can send a small group to steal the Goron Ruby from the leader of the Gorons."

The two witches, Koume and Kotake, turned their gazes back to Ganondorf.

"…But what about the sapphire, the ocarina and the song?" They asked him.

"We know that the Zoras have the sapphire, so we will send spies to find out more and to find out if we can make the Zoras our allies. If we attack them they might warn the Hylians and fight on their side. I will personally deal with the princess. I have a few ideas on what to do next but we have to see how things turn out." Ganondorf answered.

Koume and Kotake walked over to the balcony.

"You are a good boy", Koume told Ganondorf with a dire grin spreading over her lips as Kotake handed her a broom. Both flew away into the night and was engulfed by the darkness.

"Bug-eyed witches…" Ganondorf muttered and closed the door to the balcony. He had already heard that the king had asked for Zelda's presence so she would surely arrive soon. He was going to keep an eye on her.

The next day was warm and the sun shined brightly.

"I don't want this!" Link threw the sapphire at Ruto.

"Yeah, he doesn't want it!" Navi agreed triumphantly.

"How childish you are! Don't start throwing the symbol of our engagement around just because you're shy!" Ruto said as she picked it up from the ground and put it back in his hands. Link tried to push it back into her hands but she pushed back.

"I'm not interested in having any relationship! I'm training in the army!"

"I know it's hard to keep it secret but we have to live through these hardships and then…"

"HE'S NOT INTERESTED", Navi yelled at the top of her lungs.

Zelda watched the whole scene from behind a bush. She had changed into Sheik but running around the castle in a Sheikah outfit was suicide so she had changed into regular clothes. As usual she had taken a piece of cloth to wrap around the lower part of her face to hide her neck and some of her features, or else someone might recognize her or not believe her to be male.

She had visited the castle a few times during the last years and the latest visits she hadn't had any time to see Link, not as herself anyway.

"I can't believe you keep showing up here! You spend more time here than Zelda does!" Link yelled at Ruto.

Ruto's eyes narrowed as she took a few steps towards him.

"Zelda again, huh? I won't forgive you if you're fooling around with someone else!"

Link's face reddened. "I wouldn't… I mean I haven't… Why would I care what you think?"

Zelda didn't like where this conversation was going and decided to show herself.

"Sheik!" Ruto squealed at the sight of Zelda and immediately ran over to her. "It was such a long time ago", Ruto said and giggled.

It was ironic how well she seemed to get along with Ruto in this shape when the Zora princess didn't seem able to stand her company in her other form.

"Sheik…" Link said sternly as he walked up to them.

"Hi, long time no see, Link", Zelda said. "I'm surprised that you're free from practice…"

"Yeah, maybe dad's getting old or something…"

"You haven't fought against me yet", Zelda said with a playful smile.

"I'm not that heartless Sheik! Look how skinny you are… and so short… do you get enough to eat?" Link compared their heights. Zelda pouted. She felt a little uncomfortable that he had become so much taller than her. It was hard to pretend you were a guy with a girl's height and not to mention that even though, as Sheik, she was quite muscular she still looked way too slender for a man.

"Aww, Link, it is okay…we're both unmanly…" She teased and wished she wasn't too obvious in that statement.

"Can you never be nice to me?"

"I don't know… I just say what comes to me. I don't really bother to think too much about what I say…"

"That's great Sheik!" Ruto said with a nod. "You should always speak your mind."

"You might end up without friends or getting into trouble", Link stated.

"…Since when are you so grownup?" Zelda asked and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Sheik has a point", Navi said.

"What? Why is it always me who's wrong? I'm even saying something smart for once! Sheik looks like he'll be sent flying if someone pokes him with a fingernail and still he acts like he owns the place?"

"You do the same…" Navi responded.

"Sorry, Linky", Zelda patted his shoulder. "I have to speak whatever comes to my mind."

"Why?"

"It's for Zelda."

"How can the fact that you're being ill-mannered help Zelda?"

"The princess wishes for something she can only get if I learn to know myself. By being able to look myself in the mirror, by letting all words and thoughts inside of me out I can understand what kind of person I am. If I'm a bad person, then so be it. I have to dare to hear my own words... because the princess will never be able to… She won't dare to…"

"Well, she's a girl so it's natural that she won't dare things", Link said and shrugged.

"WHAT?" Ruto, Zelda and Navi shouted with one mouth.

"I meant in a certain way, a special kind of fear, for one specific thing!" Zelda quickly added.

"No one understands you when you start with all that weird talk anyway! Men are the ones who protect women, not the other way around. You said that she was a coward yourself and it's nothing wrong with a girl being scared."

"Why you…" Ruto began. Zelda heard a small sound and quickly looked around. The others didn't notice but they weren't trained to hear things a Sheikah could easily take notice of. She caught sight of Kaepora Gaebora, whom often followed her around and which she had gotten to know quite well during the last years. His appearance made her quickly understand that people whished for her presence.

"Seems like we have an interesting discussion to look forward to. Please excuse me but I must leave", she said with a bow.

"Already?" Ruto asked, looking disappointed.

Zelda nodded and started to run. Better take the fastest way, she thought as she quickly snuck past the guards to get to the part of the garden below her window. She easily climbed up to the balcony and entered.

"That owl is slow…"

Zelda saw Impa sitting in her red armchair, looking bored.

"Why are they calling me?" Zelda asked as she changed back from Sheik to the Princess of Hyrule.

"Haven't bothered to check, does it really matter?"

"With Ganondorf still in the castle, yes."

She exited her room without continuing the conversation, Impa didn't seem to mind though, and headed towards the throne room.

She swallowed before she entered.

"You wanted to see me?"

Her father stood by the throne speaking to two men she had never seen before.

"Yes, Zelda, we have two very important guests."

She walked up to them and curtsied.

"This is Adaruriku and his son Aeri." The visitors bowed to her and she smiled at them in return.

"I'm Princess Zelda", she said.

"Zelda, please spend some time with young Aeri until dinner", her father spoke. She couldn't do anything else but to accept and turned to the guest which, she was sure, could only be a few years older than her. And Link she added in her mind.

When they left the room and walked through the corridor she glanced at the guest and noted that he took a great interest in the decorations and design of the castle.

"The castle is magnificent", he said and broke the silence.

"Yes, I though we could take a stroll in the garden. The castle looks a lot more different from there than when you see it from the main entrance, or from town for the matter too", she answered and felt a smile on her lips. He looked a little nervous even though he was good at hiding it. He probably grew up with acting like this, she thought. At the sight of her smile he seemed to relax a little and smiled back, if yet a bit uneasily.

As they strolled through the garden she noticed that, as she had expected, he spent more time looking at the castle than anything else.

"What do you think of these roses?" she asked. He blinked and was silent for a second but other than that nothing told her that he hadn't been paying attention to her or the garden.

"Lovely…" he answered.

"What business do you and your father have here?" she asked innocently. He actually lost his good composure and seemed visibly bothered by the question. Not to mention how red his ears turned all of a sudden.

"S-since my father is one of the richest in Hyrule the king called us for a… certain business."

"How old are you?"

"18 years old… I guess that I shouldn't ask a lady about her age but yours is already spread over the whole kingdom", he said and added a laugh, more because it suited the comment than that he actually felt like laughing. Zelda joined in too, even though the joke strongly reminded her of the old, boring advisors.

"Princess, may I ask about your interests?"

"Me? I enjoy strolls in the garden, flower arrangements, beautiful clothing and jewellery", she said almost automatically. It seemed like the lessons about presentable behavior for a princess had paid off.

"Ah, you like jewellery? Of course I wouldn't expect anything else from our princess but…" His face lit up. "Do you have any favorite?"

"I think sapphires have something the others don't."

"Yes, their blue color", he said and laughed at his own joke. Zelda resisted the urge to groan.

"What about you?" She asked to change the topic. Sure, she enjoyed jewels, they were beautiful, but it wasn't anything interesting to discuss.

"I'm very interested in politics and business. Antiques and art also interest me a great deal."

Is he really eighteen? She thought.

"Yes, art is surely interesting", she said as she choose a topic she herself enjoyed.

"And as the future queen, politics must interest you greatly."

He had a very superior attitude, and even though she knew she was better than this, it already got on her nerves.

"No, actually it doesn't. Of course I'm interested in Hyrule's welfare and about all the people here, but politics? I think you got it a little wrong", she stated and smiled sweetly. He became a bit tense at the word wrong and she highly enjoyed his reaction to not being the all-knowing in the conversation anymore.

During the rest of the walk their conversation turned into a battle. He was clever and hated to look stupid so, even though he was quite friendly, he couldn't stop to try being the superior of the two. Unfortunately, for him, the princess always had a quick answer and dominated completely.

When they stopped his eyes shined with excitement, as if he'd been running a long distance. Or, Zelda thought, the way Link looked after mastering a move his father had taught him.

"I've had a great time. It's not often you meet such a smart woman. I've never experienced such a conversation in my entire life!" He grabbed her hands. "I hope you'll wish for me and my father to return. I'm sure your word will mean a lot to the king's decision."

Zelda doubted that. She freed her hands and smiled.

"Thank you. I had a great time too."

As they walked back to the throne room she had expected him to be quiet but suddenly he turned to her.

"I have always known what I wanted. I want to take over the family business and have a good life in the home I grew up in. No matter what astounding buildings I've visited or marvellous homes, I've never wanted to do anything else but to stay with my family and take care of them and make them proud. For the first time in my life I find myself more drawn to these finer things in life that I'm so interested in than to my family and it confuses me since they have always meant most to me… Maybe… this is supposed to become a big part of my life… these finer things", he said and looked straight at her.

Of course she already knew that this meeting was set up since he was a good candidate to become her husband, and king, but she had thought that he wouldn't bring it up.

"Opening up like this to me so soon… I feel honored", she answered and met his gaze with shy eyes, all an act of course. She no longer felt anything changing her mood or making her lose her calm. Being shy was not a part of her anymore.

He seemed to really have gotten fond of her and gave her his full attention during the whole dinner, eagerly passing her different dishes or trying to engage her into conversation. Then, after ages it seemed, it was time for him and his father to leave.

Zelda felt a bit tired when she closed the door to her room. Maybe she should be a little colder next time. She didn't want anyone to misunderstand her intentions.

"Impa, can you please go and find out if there's a meeting like this tomorrow and, if so, when?" Zelda spoke out to the room, knowing that Impa probably was there somewhere even though she wasn't visible.

It felt so good to lie down in her bed. With good hopes for the next day Zelda fell asleep.

Link looked up at the sky. Another beautiful day, he thought as he played a few notes on his ocarina. He had become really good and didn't have any trouble with playing it anymore.

Zelda sighed as she walked through the castle. Ganondorf followed every step she took. He was pretty good at spying but he wasn't good enough to remain unnoticed by her.

He had been following her the whole day and she was really getting tired of it. Impa had been keeping an eye on the Gerudo and had informed her about him sneaking around in the castle as if he was looking for something. She was sure it was the Ocarina of Time which she carried with her for the moment, something he was unaware of.

It didn't take long for her to make him lose her. She headed towards the training grounds the moment she knew he was gone.

Ganondorf started to run. Where had the princess gone? She couldn't just disappear. Frustrated he started to look for her.

Zelda noticed how the soldiers glanced at her and how their movements changed, either more eager or stiffer, as they saw her at the training grounds. She sat down on a bench and pretended to enjoy the beautiful weather.

She didn't see Link anywhere but she spotted his father yelling at two soldiers who practiced sword fighting against each other. Suddenly Link's father ran up to someone and Zelda saw that the arriving person was Link. His father didn't waste any time. He immediately yelled at Link and put him to work.

Zelda sat there watching him for an hour, not bored even for a second. She felt so awfully at ease when her eyes rested on her dear friend. She longed to hear him speak to her again, but for now this would do.

"Why can't I practice with the ones that are the same age as me?" Link complained as a much more experienced fighter brought him to the ground. Link brushed some sweat from his forehead as he rose and glared at his father.

"Because they're useless. I can't help that they aren't prepared enough for this. You won't get any better if you fight them." His father answered as if it was obvious.

"Oh, I'm that good?" Link smirked.

"No, he beat you didn't he?" Link's father said and pointed at his challenger. "That means you're still not good enough. Now fight some more!"

"But I'm exhausted!"

Link's father pointed at a soldier shooting with bow and arrow without answering and Link started to walk over to the soldier with his head hanging low.

Zelda recognized the nice guard which had told her about Bonooru's fate. He didn't look very tired. She hadn't seen him fight anyone else. He had just been shooting with bow and arrow at a scarecrow this whole time.

Link laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, you, we're going to fight now."

The soldier shrugged and drew his sword. They had hardly put themselves in position before both lunged forwards. A tense battle began and both of them were equal in skill.

Zelda noticed that Link had been tired already from the start and that his opponent had better focus on the fight while Link only concentrated on his own moves. Soon enough, Link ended up on the ground.

"Don't worry", the soldier said and grinned. "When I become a knight I'll try to remember you old friend and perhaps lay a good word for you."

Link frowned and got to his feet again. "What are you so cocky about? I was tired!"

Zelda smiled at the scene, and the familiar look on Link's face, when someone touched her shoulder.

"Princess, a message which you would have received a long time ago, I'm sorry for the delay."

Zelda read the letter that was handed to her. Her father demanded that she got herself a bodyguard.

But I already got Impa, she thought. She guessed her father didn't trust a bodyguard that hardly showed itself.

"Do you know someone who can choose a bodyguard that may be suitable?" The person behind her asked.

"Yes, thank you…" She answered.

The person bowed and left. Zelda went back to trying to listen to Link's conversation. She sorted out all other voices and tried to concentrate on what she wanted to hear.

"Why do you want to become a knight?" Link, who had calmed down by now, asked the soldier.

"As a soldier you're stuck here training, even if you manage to get higher status you'll still just be someone sent out in battle and Hyrule has become so peaceful nowadays", he said and shrugged. "But as a knight you can go wherever you like whenever you like and people will see you as a hero. Not to mention how important you'll be and well paid. Only problem is that you have to do something above the ordinary to become a knight and as I said, Hyrule is so peaceful… But maybe that will make it all easier?"

"You act as if you just want to be all big and mighty! Doing nothing and still live a life in luxury!"

"Yep, we all want to succeed in life, what else are you going to do? I have my reasons for wanting to succeed. Everybody should have a reason."

"I'm sure it's a good reason."

Both men looked up when the melodious voice interrupted them to see princess Zelda standing in front of them.

"P-p-princess Zelda?" Link stuttered.

"Ah, princess!" The soldier grinned and bowed as Link clumsily did the same.

Zelda looked at the soldier curiously. She was sure this reason he was talking about was a woman. She could easily tell that this was a man in love. It was something about the twinkle in his eyes and the way he answered her smile, as if to confirm her thoughts.

"I'm sorry but I overheard you. You shouldn't be so rude", she remarked, facing the soldier.

"Of course not! Please, forgive me, I wasn't myself", he answered.

Link brushed some sweat from his brow again and hoped he didn't look too awful.

"I am at the moment in need of a bodyguard", Zelda spoke. "And you're one I've seen more of and know a little better. Not to mention your great skill. I think it would be more suitable with a real job, so…"

Link swallowed. This was a chance of them being together more. If he became her bodyguard… He felt his thoughts wander to a scene of himself protecting the fair maiden from…

"I'd be honored!"

Link was awakened from his thoughts by the soldier's voice. "W-what?" Link asked.

"I thought you'd accept", Zelda said and smiled. "Do you mind discussing some details now?"

"Just let me talk with the general."

Zelda and the soldier walked over to Link's father and then began to walk away. Link stared after them. How could she do this? Didn't she see the opportunity? She didn't need a bodyguard when she had that awful, awful Impa!

"Link, don't just stand there! Get over here and continue your practice!" His father yelled.

Zelda walked by the soldier's side away from the training grounds.

"Tell me why you want to become a knight."

"I thought you overheard us", he joked but then became serious. "Protecting Hyrule is admirable but I want something more. I want to be skilled and strong and this is the best way to achieve those goals but most of all I want to make my wife happy."

"I guessed a woman was involved." She said and he grinned.

"That easy to tell? I thought people would just think I'm a cheery person."

"No, the smile tells a little but it's your eyes that made me realize. How long have you been married?"

"Not long at all. Not even a year actually. We haven't gotten our own house yet but I plan to get a house in Kakariko where we both used to live. We were childhood friends you see."

"I guessed someone like you would have a good reason for such shallow wishes."

"Shallow? The soldiers don't do much use to Hyrule. They just practice and practice and practice but as a knight you can travel and take care of anything that threatens our beloved peace."

"Do you accept the offer to be my bodyguard?" She asked him.

"I would be honored."

Zelda decided to open up to this man. He had always had a good impression on her and she felt he could be trusted. She told him everything about her own childhood friend and asked him to go get him for her.

"He could use some time away from all that practice." She said.

"I totally agree! If you only knew what the general does to him!" The soldier laughed and turned to head back and fetch Link for her.

"Yo, green man!" He called out to Link.

"What is it?"

"Very important business!" He stated as he approached Link's father. "Very, very important business. I am sorry to say that I leave this group to become an honorable bodyguard that gets to spend time with the princess and have a lot more fun than all of you and that means that I also can inform you that the higher people have called for your son." He said loudly enough for everybody to hear.

Link's father was used to this guy and didn't bother about all unnecessary things he threw into the actual message. He agreed to let Link skip the rest of the practice for the day. He swallowed as his son walked away. Link was an outstanding combatant, and he himself had done everything he could to make sure Link became a good man. Could they want him for something special? He was sure his son would make him proud. To be called by the higher people, so to say, already.

Link remained silent until the soldier left then he exploded. "What was that all about? You completely ignored me! Don't you think at all? Didn't you see what an opportunity this was? You're so stupid Zelda!"

She frowned at him. "You wouldn't have much to do as my bodyguard. You have goals to achieve. I helped him by giving him this job and he is reliable enough to help the two us contact each other."

Link fell silent, defeated by her reasoning.

"Want to go for a walk?" He asked shyly. She nodded.

"I was a bit surprised since we haven't seen each other in such long time when you started our reunion with yelling at me.

"I'm sorry, but you ignored me too!"

"I had to take care of business first."

"Does business mean more to you? You really have gotten some things in the wrong order!" He snorted as he crossed his arms and she could tell that he was hurt, not angry.

It didn't take long till they were good friends again and involved in a deep conversation about the Hylian army. The sunset was near when they noticed that they were back at the training grounds that were left empty.

"I can't remember how long it was since we last spent this much time together." Zelda said.

"Yeah, do you remember that we used to go here when it was empty?" He said in turn and smiled at her.

"Yes, I used to watch you practice here."

Link grinned and went over to the bench where she had been sitting earlier that day. "I have my bow with me. I think I can practice a little on this tree, wanna look?"

Zelda sat down on the bench and made sure to show him that he had her full attention. He backed and aimed at an apple. He looked deeply concentrated and then he let go and the arrow swished by the apple.

"It was so close! I even think it brushed against it!" Zelda said excitedly. Bow and arrow had become her own weapon of choice and it was one of the things she was best at. She almost wanted to try herself when she saw him aim at the apple once again. She rose and picked a flower near the tree. She went over to the tree and fastened it with the help of some loose bark.

"Aim at this instead", she told him and he switched his aim to the flower.

"Why?"

"I just want you to", she simply said and he held back a laugh as he once again concentrated on hitting the flower.

The arrow bore its way into the trunk through one of the flower petals.

"I hit it!" Link shouted.

"That was great Link!" Zelda said enthusiastically. "So magnificent to see it fly with such speed and hit its goal", she added softly, almost with a sort of poetic love. Link glanced at her.

"Do you want to try? I can help you."

Zelda hesitated. She didn't want to look bad by missing on purpose but she couldn't just get a nice first shot right in front of him.

"Come on! Let's do something together for once!" He said and Zelda rose from the bench. She walked over to him and stood in front of him. He gently took a hold of her shoulders and brought her closer to the tree. Zelda rolled her eyes. She was so close that it felt ridiculous trying to shoot now.

"Can't we stand a little further away?"

"Think about that you're only a beginner. You're going to notice that it's harder than it looks."

Zelda wasn't in the mood for his regular taking care of her so she began to step backwards forcing him to do the same.

"Fine, as you want", he said and began to instruct her how she should do. Zelda was patient and listened to everything he said even though she knew it just as well as he did. Then finally she stood ready for the shoot with Link's arms guiding her. She aimed at the flower and found the right place. She was about to let go when she felt him guiding her a little to the left. She began to draw back to the right but he refused to let her do it.

"Who's the archer here? You or me? Let me help you!" He said when he noticed her unwillingness to let him lead. Zelda broke free from his grasp and let the arrow go and watched as it hit the centre of the flower.

"Oops, it must have been a lucky shoot. I lost my aiming when you let go of me", she said innocently. Link looked doubtfully at her in silence. She hoped he didn't suspect anything.

"Can't we go for another walk?" she asked.

"Do we ever do anything else?"

This time no one said anything until Zelda finally spoke. "Do you remember Bonooru?"

"What?"

He looked at her with confusion.

"Bonooru, the scarecrow", she tried to remind him.

"I don't get what you're talking about. Zelda, are you feeling well?" He asked and brought his hand to her forehead.

"It's okay. I hadn't expected you to remember anyway", she said quietly.

Link began to worry. This was obviously something he was supposed to remember.

"Zelda, I'm sorry. Try to remind me. I'm sure it's important. I can feel it!"

She looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"You know that scarecrow that I used to have as a friend…" she began and memories were immediately brought to Link.

"Yeah, now I remember", he said and began to laugh. "You thought it was alive and you wouldn't let me practice on him. Oh, Farore, you were so stupid!"

"What! Just so you know he was alive!" She said even though she knew it was her own magic that had made him come to life for one night. He looked at her with pity.

"Zelda, at this age…"

"Why do you always treat me like I'm stupid? Am I just supposed to listen to your stories about yourself? Clap my hands whenever you do something and let you act like you can do everything better than me?"

"I… didn't mean to…" He stared at her. "What do you mean by the way? You shouldn't pretend as if you like it if you don't!"

"I do! But I don't like the way you seem to look down on me!" she exclaimed.

"Well, excuse me! I didn't mean to look down on the mighty highness!"

"…Are you still angry about that?"

"About what?" He glared at her?

"Forget it", she said and began to walk away from him in a quick pace.

"Wait!" He shouted and ran after her. "I won't let you go!" He grabbed her shoulder.

"You don't know how it was to be without friends!" she yelled at him.

"You have me… isn't that enough?" he asked as his eyes darted to the ground. Zelda felt a small sting of guilt in her heart. There was no use to fight, she knew him well enough to know it wasn't worth it.

"I'm sorry Link, you are my best friend and one day I'll let all of Hyrule know it", she whispered as she leant against his chest and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. Suddenly Zelda got an idea. No one knew of her friendship with Link and Ganondorf was following her everywhere. She could give the ocarina to Link. She knew he was responsible and Ganondorf would never bother to look there. She freed herself from her friend's embrace. Link felt cold when he no longer felt her warm body against him.

"I have something I want you to protect for me… can you do that?"

He nodded when he saw the serious look on her face. She held out a beautiful ocarina and laid it in his hands. The smooth, blue surface almost felt cold against his palm. He couldn't help but to try and play it.

"You've become better", Zelda said once he'd finished.

"Uhm, Zelda, do you have… any favorite kind of music?" he asked, thinking of their old promise.

"All kinds of music are beautiful but I guess I like a really good slow-paced song. But if it's a slow one it has to be something special, or else it drowns in all other songs."

She gently took the ocarina from him and began to play a mysterious tune. It felt different from other songs Link had ever heard before.

"Is that what you mean?"

"Yes, some songs are even so beautiful or so full of meaning that it becomes magical. The royal family has its own song that's magical."

"Was that the one?" he asked.

"No, it was another one. Guard the ocarina carefully." She said and gave it back to him.

"I will Zelda!"

Suddenly they were interrupted by voices. "Let's see what's happening", Zelda said and began to walk in the direction of the noise.

"But, please, I'm sure my invention will be of use for you."

Zelda saw an old man being dragged by two soldiers. She looked back and saw that Link was far behind her. She gestured for him to come quickly.

"Sorry, I dropped the stupid sapphire", he whispered and showed her the Zora's Sapphire.

He was about to put it and the ocarina in his pocket when he recognized the old man. He had been thrown out from the castle before when he tried to show an invention.

"For the millionth time! We're not interested in your inventions."

"But this one is different."

Zelda suddenly felt a dark presence lurking around and was sure that Ganondorf was nearby. Had he found her?

"Sharp, Flat! Say something! The old man pleaded and Zelda and Link saw the two musicians walk up to him. Sharp grabbed his collar and whispered something Zelda barely heard and she was sure not even the soldiers next to them heard a word. But then their voices grew louder.

"Don't pull us into this. Don't mention anything about us!" Sharp snapped.

"But don't you remember when we researched together? Don't you remember how I helped you when you begun with the project of studying magical music. How I supported you all I could in your search for notes that could control the sun and the moon?"

Sharp quickly covered the old man's mouth as Zelda and Link ran up to them. Zelda was worried. She knew Ganondorf was here and he was after the Song of Time. If he misunderstood this Sharp and Flat could be in great danger. Then she noticed that Link had followed her and that he held the sapphire and ocarina fully visible.

Ganondorf stood and watched them from an entrance to the castle which was nearby. He had come when he heard all the noise and now he found himself staring at the stone he had been searching, the ocarina he needed and now also knowing where he could get the song. He smirked. Now he could start to plan on how to take over and when to get the Triforce. But then the princess turned and looked straight at him. As soon as his eyes met hers he knew that she knew all his thoughts.

He quickly left. He didn't have any time. He would have to start this now, before she got in his way again.

Zelda felt worried. This was bad. She would have to make something about Ganondorf now, before he could hurt someone.

"I must go", she said and began to run. Link stared after her.

"Zelda", he whispered.

To be honest I avoided the word Mum for long. Mostly because I'm not sure about the spelling but we learnt to spell it 'Mum' when I first began to learn English (that feels so long ago) and I don't know if it's supposed to be capital letter too so that's the reason I didn't use it at first. And I'm Swedish (finally someone asked, even though I tend to write it here and there). I was so happy for the last reviews! My heart always starts to beat faster when I'm about to read them! And special thanks to duziekat for reviewing all chapters at once (if it was me I would have reviewed the last chapter only, yes, I should be ashamed of myself). I'm glad to see that some of you are still there that has been here for a really long time now.

So next chapter won't contain much stupid jokes I guess. But I won't be able to start writing since I'm going to visit my Grandma and Grandpa for a week. Finally I got the next chapter planned again! I feel bad when not knowing what is going to happen.

Will Link and Zelda ever have a romantic moment?